Don't pay to kennel your dogs when they'll just come back smelly and anxious. Get someone to come to your house to feed them, cuddle them, and water your plants!
It's easy: Services such as MindMyHouse.com and TrustedHouseSitter.com connect those who need a house/pet sitter with those who enjoy travel. Some people charge a fee, but many people do it free, just for a place to stay in a new city.
On many of these sites it's free for home owners to post a job, and the site charges the potential house/pet sitter to contact you.
We used MindMyHouse, posted an ad with the details and had three applicants in a week or so. The young woman we chose was just moving out to the Denver area from New York and didn't have a place to stay. She was couch surfing with her friends, but wanted some time in a place to herself.
We had her come over to the house for an interview, to meet the dogs and so we could make sure she wasn't actually a serial killer. She was super nice and great with the boys, so we set it up.
The house was kept in good order, the dogs were fed, and the night we returned from our trip, she even stayed an extra night and babysat Babs so we could go out to a concert! It was an excellent, mutually beneficial deal.
And this house sitting swap makes me think about being on the other end of the service as a traveller. What a great way to see the country, and the world! Get a free place to stay in exchange for feeding and cuddling with some animals? Sounds pretty good doesn't it?
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